Method of and apparatus for binding boxes



Oct. 7, 1952 c Maccl-lgsNEY 2,612,833

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES Filed Dec. 22, 1944. 16 Sheets-Sheet l rl. f

16 Sheets-Sheet 3 C. M. M CHESNEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES Filed Dec. 22, 1944 Oct. 7, 1952 IN VEN TOR.

.16 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

C. I M. M CHESNEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES Filed Dec. 22, 1944 5 Oct. 7, 1952 a 7 fi m wLGE Oct. 7, 1952 c. M. M CHESNEY 2,612,833

METHQD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 22, 1944 L mi 146 INVENTOR.

CizeZZrM/VacC/aewg Oct. 7, 1952 c. M. M cHEsNEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 22, 1944 Ill-Ill l I 1 l l I |||l Illll lllll-III E 1 41 MN J L l6 Sheets-Sheet 7 3 GN Q fYaOC/zea wmw QM S C. M. M CHESNEY Q NAN NM METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES Oct. 7, 1952 Filed Dec, 22, 1944 Oct.'7, 1952 c. M. M CHESNEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES I Filed Dec. 22," 1944 v 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

Oct. 7, 1952 c. M CHESNEY METHOD OF ANDAPPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES Filed Dec. 22, 19 4 v IN V EN TOR.

Mac

Oct. 7, 1952 c. M- M CHESNEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES 1e Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Dec. 22, 1944 wmww mQww Qww i I J Ill llllkllllllull INVENTOR.

Oct. 7, 1952 c. M. M CHESNEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES Filed Dec. 22, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 11 mmNQ wmN @w l mwshmn CZzeaZrM/VQc Oct. 7, 1952 c. M 'cHEsNEY 2,612,333

' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FQR BINDING BOXES Filed Dec. 22, 1944 1e Sheets-Sheet 12 365/ w I 4 7 I [VacCJzam 35;?" I I I Oct. 7, 1952 c. M. M CHESNEY 2,

METHOD OF ANfi APPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES Filed Dec. 22, 1944 16Sheegs-Sheet 13 I N VEN TOR.

ChesZr/Y/Vac 016572 c. M. M CHESNEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES Filed Dec. 22, 1944 Oct. 7, 1952 16 Sheets-Sheet 14 I N V EN TOR. 026527-157 Mac 6726622? Oct. 7, 1952 c. M. M CHESNEY METHOD 6F AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES l6 Sheets-Sheet 15 Fil ed Dec. 22, 1944 v INVENTQR. 1 Ckesirflfiac C'JzesW Oct. 7, 1952 c. M. MECCHESNEY METHODOF AND APPARATUS FQR BINDING BOXES Filed Dec. 22, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 mmvron GkaflErM/Vac Chasing M4 Patented Get. '7, 1952 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING BOXES Chester MacChesney, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Acme SteelCompany, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 22, 1944, Serial No. 569,383

78 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in methods of and apparatus for binding boxes, packages and the like with flexible metal binders such as flat, transversely curved, or beaded steel strapping, or round wire, commonly used for the purpose.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved binding machine capable of carrying on the binding of boxes and packages automatically in a continuousprocess with no attention on the part of the operator except that required to place the packages successively in the machine and to remove them therefrom as they are bound.

A further important object is to provide van improved method of binding packages and the like in which a measured length of binderris drawn from a'source of supply, whereupon the end portions of this length are held and it is cutv off from said source, after which the held ends of said length are moved toward each otherto cause its intermediate portion .to be deflected to form a loop, preferably a suspended loop, into which the package is then moved, preliminary to moving the held ends of said length of binder further toward each other to draw the binder taut around the package and place its ends in position to be united with each other.

Another object is to provide a method of binding in which a measured length of binder is continuously held adjacent its ends during the operations of drawing out said length from a source of supply and measuring it, cutting-on said measured length from said source, moving said ends toward each other to form a suspended loop of. binder, movin a package into said loop, moving said held ends further toward each other to draw said length of binder taut around the package and uniting the ends of said length of binder. I I

Still another obiectof the invention is to provide improved "apparatus comprising relatively movable holding devices by which a measured length of binder is drawn out from a source of supply and then moved laterally into engagement with relatively movable stretching devices which seize the binder, whereupon a shearing device cuts ofi the supply end of the measured length from the supply and said length is re: leased by said holding devices, preliminary to relative moving of said stretching devices toward each other which then takes place to cause the portion of said measured length between said dogs to form a suspended loop into which a package is then moved to be bound by said length of binder which is then drawn taut by the movement of the stretching devices further toward each other during which movement they are automatically reversed in their positions so that, as they-draw the length of binder taut about the package, they present the ends ofthe binder in overlapping relationship to be united by a seal-'-' ing device which forms a part of the apparatus. A furtherfeature of the invention is the provision of automatic controlling apparatus which causes the operations just referred to to beinitiated by the placing of a box or package in the machine in a position to be bound and then to follow each other in the proper order and in the desired timed relationship until the binding is completed, the box or package is automatically ejected from the binding position, and. a new loop of binder formed for the reception of another box or package. 7.

Another important object of the invention'is to provide a machine of the type'referred to in which the successive operations are efiected and controlled bypower means such as fluid pressure, preferably hydraulic pressure, which, is actuated to start the sequence of operations which take place in the machine byv the act of placing a package or the like in the machine in position to be bound, the sequence of operations terminating after the package is boundand automatically moved from the binding position and a new. length of binderdrawn out in readiness for the binding of another package. A further object of the invention is to provide a machine in which a, plurality of cycles of operations are carried on simultaneously, one cycle of operations including the drawing out of a measured length of binder from the source of supply, transferring it to engagement with stretching devices and cutting it oif from the supply,.while another cycle comprises the operations of moving the ends of the cut length'to-r ward each other to form a suspended loop, moving a package into the loop, drawing the loop taut around the package with the ends of the binder overlapping and uniting these overlapping ends. Thus, while a cut length of binder is being applied to a package by one cycle of operations, another length of binder is being drawn out and cut ofi by the other 'cycle of operations in preparation for the binding of the next package. Other objects of the invention relate to various features of construction and arrangement of the apparatus, and to other novel features of the improved method,which will appear more fully hereinafter. I

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the to that of Fig. 1, showing the relative positions of.

the parts after a relative movement of the holding devices has been effected. to draw out and measure a predetermined length of binder;

Fig. 3 shows a somewhat diagrammatic top plan and perspective view of the holding devices and the relatively movable gripping dogs, illustrating by dotted lines the positions of the holding devices after a measured length of binder has been drawn from the source of supply as illustrated inFig. 2, and showing by full lines the positions of the holding and measuring devices after they have been moved rearwardly to transfer the measured length of, binder to a position where it is engaged by the relatively movable stretching dogs; v

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan and perspective view similar. to that of Fig, 3, showing the relative positions of the parts after the measuring devices have been returned to their forwardpositions following thetransfen of the measured length of binder. to the stretching dogs andshowing, by full lines. the relative positions of the stretching dogs after they have been moved toward each other from their initial positions, illustrated by dotted lines. thereby causing the intermediate portion of the binder to, descend by gravity and form a U-shaped loop;

Fig. 5 shows afront elevation of the stretching dogs and the U-shaped loop of the binder after a package to be bound has been-inserted into the loop on the supporting table in readinessfor the operations of elevating the package intooperative relation to the sealing device illustrated above it and for the operation of effecting further relative movement of the stretching dogs .to draw the binder taut around the package;

Fig. 6 shows a front elevation of. the package, stretching dogs, binder and sealing apparatus after the stretching dogs have been moved in-' Wardly toward each other and rotatedbyengagement with the corners of the package to cause the projecting ends of the binder to project toward each other-and to be ovedlapped when the stretching dogs reach-their final positions here illustrated;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic front elevation-showing the relative positions of the parts after the ends-of -the binder have been sealed, the support ing'table lowered and the stretching dogs separated to their initial positions;

Fig. 8 shows a front elevation of the-machine;

Fig. 9 shows a top-plan view thereof;

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a box or package having binding straps applied thereto with their ends united by interlocking joints formed through the use of metal seals Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one form of seal which may be used in forming the joint illustrated in Fig. 10;

, Fig. 12 shows an enlarged perspective view of the completed strap joint shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 shows a top plan view of .themajor portion of the supporting table;

Fig. 14 shows an end elevation of the upper part of the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 15 shows a longitudinal axial section through the clutch which is actuated by the movement of the package on the supporting table to initiate the cycle of operations which occur during the binding of each package after the formation of the U-shaped loop shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 16 shows a sectional view taken on the line I6|6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 1'? shows a sectional view taken on the line Il-ll of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 shows a horizontal section taken on the line l8-|8 of Fig. 14;.

Fig. 19 shows a sectional view taken on the line 19-19 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 shows an end elevation of the rear portion of the frame illustrated in Fig. 18, illustrating the cam and the associated mechanism by which a portion of the frame is shifted to transfer the measured length of binder to the position where it is engaged by the stretching dogs as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged front elevation of portions of the machine shown near, the upper righthand part of Fig. 8, illustrating the holding or gripping devices by which the binder is drawn from the source of supply and measured and also the shearing mechanism. by which the binder is cut off from. the source of supply;,

Fig. 22 showsa sectionalview taken on the. line 22-22 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 shows a detailedsectionalview taken on the line 23-23 of Fig. 22;

. Fig. 24 shows a top plan view of the right-hand measuring. device and stretching dog and. the shearing device illustrated in'Fig. 8;-

Fig. 25 shows a sectional view taken on the line 25 25 of Fig. 24,.illustratingthe details of the shearing device; w

Fig. 26 shows a horizontalsection taken o'n-the line 26-26 of'Fig. 25;

Fig. 27 shows a sectional view taken on the line 21-21 of Fig. 24, illustratingthe right-hand stretching dog when it is in position to engage the measured length of bindertransferred theretoby the rearward shifting of the holding and measuring devices; H

Fig. 28 shows a sectional view taken on the line 28-28 of Fig. 27

Fig. 29 shows a sectionalview taken on the line 29-29 of Fig. 28;

Fig. 30 shows a top planview of the left-hand stretching dog and the left-hand measuring device and gripping dog,- as viewed in Fig. 8,-when' the measured length of binder has been shifted to a position where it may be engaged by the stretching dog;

Fig. 31 is a sectional view taken on the line 3I-3l of Fig. 30;

Fig. 32 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 31, showing the relative positions of the parts after the binder has been released by the movable measuring device and gripped by-the adjacent stretching dog;-

Fig. 33 shows a sectional view taken on the line 3333 of Fig. '30, illustrating by dotted lines the forward position of the bar which carri'es the relatively movable holding or measuring devices and associated parts and illustrating by fulllines the positions of these parts after they have been transferred rearwardly for the purpose of moving the measured length of binder to a position where it may be engaged by the relatively movable stretching dogs;

Fig. 34shows an enlarged front elevation of the sealingv apparatus in operative relation to: the

package to. be bound, illustrating by full lines the positions of the stretching dogs after they have :been moved over the top surfaceof the bindenand .inverted in their positions to cause the .endsiof the binder to be directed toward each other andfithenoverlapped, and illustrating by dottedlines the stretching dogs inthe positions whichnthey' occupy at the time of holding the.

suspended. loop shown in Fig. before they have been moved inwardly toward each other and ro-v tated about their own axes by engagement with the upper corners of the box or package;

'Fig. 35 shows a sectional view takenon the,

.bywhich the several operations performed by the machine are automatically effected and caused to occur in the proper timed relation;

Fig. 39, is a perspective view of the endless cable system by which the relatively movable stretching dogs are moved toward and from. each other during the operationof' the machine; Fig. 40 is a sectional view taken on the line 40-40 of Fi -.38, showing a side elevation. of the cam which controls the operation of the fluid motor by which the strap measuring mechanism is actuated; c

. Fig. 41 is a sectional view taken on the line ll-41 of Fig. 38, showing a side elevation of the cam for controlling the hydraulic mechanism by which the package supporting table is automatically raised and lowered; ,Fig. 42 is a sectional view 42-42 of Fig. 38, showing a side elevation of the camwhich controls the hydraulic mechanism by which the sealing apparatus is operated;

Fig. 43 is a sectional view taken on the line. 43-43 of Fig.38, showing a side elevation of the cam which controls the hydraulic system by which the measured length of binder is transferred from its forward position to the position wherein it is engaged by the stretching dogs;

Fig. 44 is a sectional view taken onthe line 44-44 of Fig. 38, showing a side elevation ofthe cam which controls the hydraulic mechanism by which the stretching dogs are actuated to cause the for mation of the U-shaped suspended loop and then to effect a further actuation of thesestretching dogs to draw the binder taut around thepackage;

Fig. 45 shows a diagrammatic view of the principal parts of the hydraulic system and their connections by which all of the operat ons of the machine are effected in the proper timed relation to each other; and v Fig. 46 is a diagram showing the duration and timed relation of the operations WhlCh occur in each of the two cycles of operations which are on simultaneously in the machine. ef gre entering upon a detailed description ofthe mechanical construction of the machine llustrated in the drawings, its general mode of operation will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, in which the successive steps of the me from the source erablv be of supply and applying it to the taken on the line are illustrated. -As there fiat metal strapping, is supplied by a thod of drawing out the binder I rotatable-reel! from which it passes upwardly and over -a-roller 52 and then to aholding device 53 whichis lnormally adapted to' perm'it-the; free movement of. the binder therethrough toward the left, as viewed inFig. 1, while preventing the reverse movement thereof. From the stationary holding, device .53, the, binder passes throughoa shearing device. 54 which operates to cut oif a lengthofstrapping fromgthe source ofv supply:

after the required-,lengthhas been drawn out through the stationary holding device 53 ,and through this shearing device. When the..'apparatus isfirst arranged-for operation, the free end 50* of the binder is manually projected into .the shearing device vti l so that it occupies a p0 sition to be, engaged by the relatively movable measuring device 55 which is adapted to be mo'v dtoward the right'and to force the shearing device award the right until the binder is pro; jected' through theshearin'g device suificiently to'be gripped by the measuring device 55, whereupon'the. measuring device is caused to travel toward the left from the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2,

thereby drawing out a predetermined length of binder from the sourceof supply. The relative positions of the parts, after this predetermined length 50 has been drawn from the source of supply,'-are'shown in Fig: 2. I I

Having measured a length of binder by the relative movement of the holding device and the measuring device, thesedevices, which are mounted upon a bar extending longitudinally of been'so transferred, the stretching devices being spaced apart to grip the m'easuredlength of the binder near the ends thereof, leaving projecting portions which are directed away from. each other; As soon as the length of binder has'been gripped by the stretching devices 56 and 51.,the shearing device 54- is operated to cut off the'binder from the source of supply. t 1

After cutting off the length of binder-50 withthe ends 50a an'd mi directed away from'eachother, the stretching devices'56 and 51 are then automatically moved toward each other to the positions shown in Fig. 4, during which operation the stretching devices are rotated through: degrees so that they assume suspended positions,

while the intermediate portion of the lengthof binder descends partly .by gravity and partly by the action of the stretching devices and forms a U-shaped loop 50 as shown in Fig.. 4. While these operations. are going on, the bar carrying theholding device'53, the shearing device 54, and the measuring device 55 is returned to its forward position, as shown by full linesin Fig. 4, after which the measuring device 55 is moved'toward the. right, as viewed in Fig.4, until it engagesthe shearing device 54, whereupon it moves the shearing device with it to a limited extent toward the right, against thepressure of a spring, until the,

projecting end of the supply portion of the binder is againprojected through the shearing device to be engaged by the measuring device 55,whereupon th measuring device is automatically operated to engage this freeend andto move again toward the left. to draw-outaht l ns hct hinderinreadiness for the next. bind operation-1 In the meantime, havingformed the UP-shaped 10995 a package 60 is manually inserted into this loop while resting. upon a supporting .plate.

6|. Atthe time of inserting the package within theloop, the plate 6| is so positioned that the upper surface of the package 60 is slightly below the sealing apparatus 62 which is partially shown by the. further actuation oithe stretching. devic s.

56 and 51 to move them toward eachother from the. positions shown in Fig. 5.v causin's'lihem to strike. the upper corners of the package, 60 andbe thereby rotated about their ownaxes and turned.

so that the free ends 50 and 50 of the measured length of binder are directed toward each other. The movement of the stretching deyices56 and 51' toward each other is continued until the. pro-.

jecting ends of the binder are overlapped, as.

h nin. Fig. .6. The seal ng d efl is th n operated tov unite thegoverlapp ns. ends: of the binder; this operation being preferably br u h about automatically. as. soon as the. bindenhas been drawn taut withits ends overlapped..,

Upon completing, the binding of the package 60 and the-sealingof theoverlapping ends of. the binder, the next step in the operation is to efiect a slight relative separation of the stretching devices .56 .and 51 from the positions shown in Fig. .6, thereby rotating. the gripping dogs; of these devices about theirown pivots so that the binder is=released from the gripping dogs. The supporting v plate BI is then again automatically actuated to movedownwardly and forwardly so. that the binder :applied about the package is carried out.

of engag ment with the ripp n ev s nd th package. is. itself lowered awayfrom the sealing device so that it may then bewithdrawn-fromthe machine by the operator. The stretching devices 56 and 51 are then separated and restored 0. their'initial inverted positions. as shown in Fig. 7, so that they are in readiness to engage anew length of binder transferred thereto by the. hold:

ing device 53 and the measuring device 55. Upon withdrawing the bound package 60, it may be replaced by another unbound package since, by that time, the ends of the second measured length of binder will have-been movedtoward-each other by the relative movement of-the stretching devices to form another U-shaped loop-adapted -to receive a newpackage to...be bound. In this way, i a continuousse iesofoperationsmay be carried; on-;with reat. rapidity; with nomanual operation necessary except that of placing a package upon the supporting table and removing it therefrom and with two cycles of automatic operations-bein carried. on simultaneously, one cycle includin the steps .of drawing out a measured length of binder from the source of supply, transferring it to the. gripping device and cutting it off from the source of supply, while-the other cycle of operationsincludes the steps of moving the stretching devices toward each other to a predetermined-extent to form a suspended U-shaped loop-and then,

when apackage is placed upon the supporting table-elevating the top plate orthe table. enactinga further movement. of the grippingdevlcos. toward each other,-.drawing the binder taut with its. endsoverlappingsealing the overlapping ends; I releasing the. bound binder from the g m" devices, moving the bound package out of engage.-

ment with the sealing device and the grippinsdevices, and again separating the gripping devices. to receive anew measured length of. binder. By: this method of operation, the. binding of packages maybe carried on with a speed which has-not heretofore been attained.

Various methods may be employed for uniting the overlappin ends of the binder by the use 01'- the sealing device 62 but one convenientmethod includes the use of U-shaped metal seals63 of the form shown in Fig. 11. These seals comprise top or back walls 63 and diverging sidewalls 58" which are united integrally therewith, thus giving them a channel form which enables a plurality oi themto be arranged in a stack. The sealing apparatus is adapted tobend the side walls of the seal about the overlapping strap ends ill arld 50 and then shear the edges of the seal and the enclosed strap ends, as shown in Fig. 12,1;0 provide:-

a plurality of pairs-of cuts 64 with the metal between these cuts deflected as shown at 65 so that a plurality of interlocking shoulders are formed which prevent relative endwise movement of the overlapping strap ends. Two binders having their ends united by seals 63 are shown applied toapackage 60 in Fig. 10 and it will be apparent that in the practice of this invention two or more binders may be applied to the same package bywithdrawing it and reversing its position on the supporting plate 6| after one binder has been applied thereto.

The apparatus for carrying out the binding method described above comprises a base-frame 66 which is adapted. to be secured to a floor GT or other support which carries all of the mechanism by which the strapping operations areeffected. This frame is of skeleton construction and of rectah l lar horizontal cross section, being made up of a plurality of framemembers including four cornerlegs 68 of anglebarform which-are connected together, as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 14, byupper. frame members 69 and lower frame mem bers 1B,.atthe front and rear sides of the frame. and, by upperframemembers'lland lower frame members (not shown) at the ends of the frame.

In addition, the corner legs BB'are connected by horizontal intermediate frame members 13' at the front and rear sides of the machine and by horizontal. intermediate frame members 14 attheends of the frame. between the opposite legs 68 at the front and rear sides of the frame. All, of these frame members are preferably of angle bar form and they'are welded or otherwise secured together at their joints to provide a strong and rigid, construction.

The supportin plate 6|, upon which the boxesor packages 60 are adapted to be mountedduring the. binding operations, normally rests at its front andrear .edges upon, the top hi'irizontalflanges of the top-horizontal. irame member '69,

at the front and rear sides of. the frame, as shown in Fig. 9, and thelateral edgesof this plate 6| are located in proximity to the edges. of the top flanges of the upper end frame. members H. The

supporting plate 61 and the frame 66' thus form-- a. supporting table and in order to permit the up ward. movement of the supporting plate 6| which forms the top of this table, for the purpose of positioning; the top of the. package inv proximity Diagonal braces Ii-extend 

